Jackets ‘Weather’ Challenge
Stingy defense, timely shooting help KHS end Eagles’ win streak
XAVIER RIDENOUR (4) is guarded by Weatherford’s Tai Vu during last Saturday afternoon’s game. Ridenour scored 22 points to lead the Jackets to their 17th win of the season. [Photo by Steve Wheeler]
Of all the teams in Class 4A, perhaps none was hotter than Weatherford.
The Eagles entered Saturday with a 12-game win streak that included victories over the likes of Tuttle, Bethany and Newcastle.
Then came along Kingfisher.
The Jackets held Weatherford to a season-low point total as they snapped that streak with a 60-48 road win.
The game was originally scheduled for the previous night, but weather conditions forced its postponement.
The teams, instead, met for a Saturday matinee.
With the sun still shining outside, five different KHS players made at least one 3-pointer and the top-ranked team in the class held No. 12 Weatherford to 34 percent shooting in its own gym.
The Jackets’ balance was on display in the second quarter when they used a 14-2 run to turn a three-point deficit into a lead they wouldn’t lose.
Xavier Ridenour and Jax Sternberger made 3-pointers and Maddox Mecklenburg two more as part of the second-quarter burst.
Ridenour took over in the third.
He nailed three more treys and scored 12 of Kingfisher’s 14 points as they extended their lead to 12 points.
It grew to as many as 17 in the fourth quarter before the Eagles made three late treys to trim it to single digits.
The Jackets went 12 of 16 from the foul line in the final quarter to help extend the lead back to double digits.
The Jackets were 17 of 26 overall on free throws. Weatherford attempted just 10.
The Eagles also shot 7 of 31 (22.6 percent) from 3-point range. Four of those makes came in the final quarter.
The team was led by freshman C.J. Nickson, who poured in 20 points. Cade Jennings scored 17.
They combined for five of the made treys.
Ridenour scored 22 for the Jackets, 19 of which came in the second half.
Sternberger finished with 10.
Mecklenburg scored eight and added five assists.
Chase Davis tallied seven points.
KHS was 9 of 15 (60 percent) from 3-point range. Seven of those makes came in the second and third quarters.
The Jackets improved to 17-1 with the win. Weatherford is 17-4.
The teams could potentially meet again as they landed in the same area in the Class 4A playoff assignments (see story on Page 8A).